Automatic regulator



' 1,630,314 May 31, 1927. E. ROUCKA AU'I OMAT I C REGULATOR I Filed Ju r xe 2. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 82 v Q 60 I l I o v a o o o MEI-50 I II LL INVENTOR ERICH RUUCKA, Y

1 ATTORNEYS Patented May 31, 1927;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ERICK RO'UCKA, OIE IBIANS KO, CZEGHOSLOVAKIA;

an'rom'rrc nnaunmon.

Application filed June 2. 1925, Serial No. 84,500, and in Czechoslovakia June 18, 19%.

This invention relates in general to controlling or measuring systems and more particularly to means for returning the parts of such systems to their normal or neutral relations upon departures therefrom due to variations in the conditions under control'or being measured to prevent overthrowing or hunting in the system. Devices known in the art as isodroms are commonly used for this purpose, but these. devices are driven by a pilot motor which effects the regulating action and is controlled by a governor, and it is difficult to utilize these known devices under many conditions, for example where the governor is remote from the pilot motor.

One object of this invention is to provide a system of the general character described in which the return drive or overthrow preventing means is actuated directly by the fluid which actuatcs the pilot motor and controlled by the governor of said pilot motor, whereby the necessity for an operative mechanical connection between the governor and other parts and the pilot motor is eliminated.

Other objects are to provide such a system embodying novel and improved features of construction wherein the return drive includes a movable part directly actuated by fluid flowing from said pilot motor; to provide valve means actuated in accordance with said return drive to control the flow of said fluid for producing a special relation between the magnitude of the flow of said fluid and the speed of said return drive, and to obtain other results and advantages as may be brought out by the following description.

In the accompanying drawings .1 have shown two systems of apparatus embodying my invention, but it will be understood that this is mainly for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention, and that the invention is susceptible of use in other systems and the details of construction of the apparatus maybe modified or changed, without departing from the spirit or scope of 'the invention. 1 v

Referring to said drawings in which the several parts of the apparatus are desig nated by reference characters hereinafter referred'to,

Figure 1 1s a schematic partial sectional and partial side elevational view of a system of apparatus embodying my invention for for supplying compressed airthrough a-pipe 6 for any desirable purpose, for instance as forced'draft for a furnace; The apparatus is particularly designed for controlling the supply of steam to the turbine 2 to thereby -maint-ain a substantially constant pre'ssure'of compressed air: in the pipe 6.

Accordingly-,..' the pipe 6 communicates through a tube 10 with the interior of an inverted bell float 12 submerged in a suitable liquid such as oil, in a container 14, so that the said float is responsive to variations in pressure in the pipe 6. The float carries a rod 16 which is 'pivotally connected to one end of a lever 18 the other end of which has a pin and slot connection 26 with I a piston rod 28 of a piston 44, hereinafter described.- The lever 18 is balancedby two opposed tension springs 20, and is:pivotally connected intermediate its ends as at 22 to the valve piston 24 arranged in a cylinder 30 of a liquid governor valve which controls the flow of liquid through a pipe 32 from a pump 33 to a double-acting pilot motor 40 the'irod- 42 of the piston of which is connected to a valve 8 in the steam-supply pipe of the turbine 2. The general principle of operation of the system is that upon a variation in the pressure of the compressed air in the pipe 6, the float 12 isinfluenced in one direction' or the other so as tov swing the lever 18 in one direction or the other and actuate the valve piston 24 to permit flow of fluid to one side of the piston of the motor 40 and from the other side thereof to actuate the vreturn drive or means for preventing overthrowing ofthe valve 8 so that the re elation of the (pressure in pipe 6 is gradual and steady; an the said return drive is directly actuated by thevfiuid which actuates the pilot motor 40. Accordingly, one port of the governor valve 24. 30 is connected by a pipe 34 to a cylinder 38 at one side-oi the piston 44 above referred to, and the cylinder 38 at the other side of said piston is connected by a pipe 36 to one side of the piston of the pilot motor40. A regulator valve 92, 95 has its two ports connected by the respective pipes 94 to opposite sides of the piston 44, and said valve is formed with two series of passages96 and 98 which cooperate with the piston 92 to control communication between the opposite ends 46 and 48 of the cylinder 38. The piston 92 of said regulator valve is connected by a rod 90 to one end of a lever 52 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 56 on a fixed support 54. The other end of said lever 52 has a pin and slot connection 50 with the piston rod 28 of the piston 44. The said piston rod 28 is connected by an-extension 84 to a lever 82 pivotally connected at one end to a fixed-support as at 80 and connected by a tension spring .86 at its other end to the lever 18.

The piston rod 28 is freely slidable through a plurality of equidistantly spaced arms 0, 72 and 74 adjustably fixed upon a supporting rod 76, and said rod 28 has fixed thereto a collar 60 of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the intermediate arm 70. A pair of sleeves 64, 66 are arranged one at each side of the arm 70 and collar 60, and respective compression -35. springs 62 and 68 are interposed between said sleeves and the respective arms 72 and 74. The said springs 62 and 68 are so related as tov normally maintain the piston 44 exactly at the center of its stroke in the cylinder 38, the said springs acting upon the collar 6f) in opposite directions so as to constantly influence the collar 60 into the position shown on the drawings.

In the operation of the system, assuming that the pressure in the pipe 6 increases, the bell 12 is actuated and moves the rod 16 in the direction of the arrow, whereby the lever 18 is moved to actuate the governor iston 24 in the direction of the arrow. iquid from the pump 33 is thus permitted to flow through the pipe 34 into the end 46 of the cylinder 38, and said liquid actuates the piston 44 in the direction of the arrow against the influence of the spring 68 andforces the liquid in the end48 of the cylinder through one of the pipes 36 into one end-of the pilot motor 40, which in turn actuates the'valve 8 in the direction of the arrow to vary the steam supply to the turbine 2 and thereby the flow of compressed air through the pipe 6 to decrease the pres- I sure therein.

Simultaneouslywith the movement of the piston 44, the rod 28 is moved in the direc: tion of the arrow to move the lever 82 and decrease the tension of the spring 86, as

in the direction-of the arrow whereby liq nid is permitted to flow from the end 48 of the cylinder 38 to the end 46. and vice versa. This action permits the equalization of the prersure at opposite sides of the piston 44, so that said piston is influenced toward its middle or neutral position by action of the springs 62 or 68 which action results in the return of the valve piston 92 and levers 18 and 82 toward their initial positions. The operation above described continues until the pressure in the pipe 6 has again reached the normal and all of the parts returned to their neutral positions.

It will be observed that due to the resistance of the liquid in the cylinder'38 and the springs 62 and 68. the movement of the valve 8 is slow so that the possibility of overthrow or vibration is prevented. Thc equalization of the pressure at the opposite ends of the cylinder 38 is controlled by the valve 92, 95, and this is in turn actuated by movement of the piston 44. Upon a decrease in pressure in the pipe 6, the reverse operation of the apparatus takes place, the float 12 and the other parts being moved in the directions opposite to those indicated by the respective arrows.

The lever 52 is provided with a plurality of openings 58 to selectively fit the pivot 56 so as to vary the leverage of the lever 52 to enable the extent of movement of the regulator piston 92 to be adjusted to a certain relation to the motion of the piston rod 28.

Preferably, the pump 33 'is such as to supply the oil with pulsating pressure so that all of the parts of the system are constantly vibrated and the friction between the slidably cooperating parts. therebybe understood that where the apparatus is tobe used in connection with the regulation of large pressures, the pilot motor 40 could be utilized to actuate a relay governor which inturn would control a main pilot motor for actuating the valve 8 or its equivalent.

In Figure 2 of the drawings the reference character 200 designates the "flue of a furnace, thedraft throu h which is to be ciple of operation of the apparatus is that. the valve 400 is automatically operated 1n controlled. Within the ue is arranged a known type of butterfly valve 400 which is operatively connected to the piston rod 600 of the piston 700 of a double-acting fluid motor 800 so that reciprocation of the piston causes oscillation of the valve to open and close the flue 200. The general prinaccordance with variations. in the draft pressure to maintain a substantially constant draft pressure.

Accordingly, the flue 200 may communica-te through a tube 100 with an inverted bell float 120 submerged in oil in a container 140 so that the float is responsive to variations in pressure in the flue. The float carries a rod 160 pivotally connected to one end of a lever 180 which is fulcrumed intermediate its ends as at 980 upon a fixed support. One end of the lever is connected by a tension spring 340 to a fixed support 360, and the other end .of the lever is provided with an adjustable counterweight 350.

The end of the lever 180 opposite the float 120 is connected to the rod 220 of the valve 'plilston 240 of a governor valve for controlg the flow of liquid from a pipe 280 to and from the ilot motor 700, 800 through pipes 380. T c said valve also controls the flow of fluid from opposite sides of the piston 700 through pipes 300 to and from cylinders 400 and 420.

, In the operation of {the system so far described, the lever 180 is adjusted by means of the spring 340 and counterweight 350 to locate the governor valve piston 240 in'its neutral position to prevent the flow of fluid to or from the motor 700, 800 when a certain pressure obtains in the flue 200. Upon variations in said pressure, for instance a P decrease, the float 120 is moved in the direction of the arrow to move the 1ever'180 which actuates the valve piston 240 in the direction of the arrow to permit the flow of fluid from the pipe 280 to the upper end of the cylinder 800, whereby the piston 700 is actuated in the direction of the arrow to move the valve 400 and increase the draft pressure in the flue. At the same time, the piston 700 forces .the liquid in thelower end of the cylinder 800 through the valve 240, 260, and one of the pipes 300 into the cylinder 420. Upon an increase in the draft and 660. The pistons carry the respective opposite the pipes 300 communicate through respective tubes 680 and 700 with cylinders 720 and 74:0 in which are mounted the respective pistons 760 and 780 formed with the respective transversepassages 800 and 820. Between the pistons 760 and 780 and the lever 180 at opposite sides of the fulcrum thereof, are interposed the respective rods 900 upon which are rotatably mounted sleeves 880 carrying wings 940 adapted to partially or wholly close the respective valve passages 800 and 820. Springs 920 are intcrposed between the ends of the sleeves 880 and the pivot clips 960 which connect the rods 900 to the lever 180, said springs maintaining the wings 940 in tight engagement with the respective p'ston's 760, 780.

When the liquid flows through one of the pipes 300 into the corresponding cylinder 400 or .420, the correspondlng piston 440 or 4:60 is moved inwardly of the cylinder,

whereby certain of the liquid flows outwardly through the valve 0 ening 520 or 540. A portion of the liquid ows through the passages in the piston and the corresponding tube 680 or 700 into the respective cylinder 720 or 740 so as to exert a pressure upon the lever 180 in a direction opposite to that exerted by the float 120. Thls action tends to, return the governor valve float 122 to their norma liquid which flows from the valve openings 520 and. 540 is collected in the container 600 and returned through pipe 620 to the ump.

It will be understood that the shape of the conical valve heads 480 and 500 will be determined by the relation desired between the intensity of flow of the fluid in the ipes 300 and. the pipes 680 and 700.

it this construction, it will be observed that the actuation of the valve 400 is gradual and steady so that overthrow or vibration thereof is prevented. Furthermore, it should be observed that the valves 400 and 420 and the connections between them and the lever 180 establish. a special relation between the variations in the magnitude of the return driving force and the speed of the piston rod 600. \Vithout thcsc. valves and their connections the relation between the flow of fluid in the pipes 380 or the speed of motion oi the rod 600 and the variations in themiignitude of the return driving force or the. speed of, the return drive wouldbe quadratic, while with said valves and their connections the relation may be proportional or otherwise.

qiston 240 and the positions. The Y While I have shown two return drives, that is the devices 400 and 420 and their respective cooperating parts, it is within the scope of the invention to utilize a common return drive and connect the pipes 300 to perate the drive in opposite directions. Also. it will be understood that where the condition to be controlled or measured 'is large, the pilot motor 700, 800 might be used as a relay motor which would control a main governor for a main pilot motor which would be connected to the part to be actuated, for instance the butterfly valve 400.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A system of thecharacter described, comprising normally balanced means responsive to variations'in a condition to be controlled, means including a double-acting fluid pressure motor for varying said condition, a governor for controlling flow of fluid to and from said motor, and fluid pressure means directly actuated by the pressure difference of said fluid caused by the flow of fluid to and from the said motor in accordance with the actuation of said governor tending to restore balance in the system after each variation of said condition to motor, and fluid pressure means cooperat-.

ing with said responsive means and said governor and directly actuated by the pressure difference of said fluid caused by the flow of fluid to and from the said motor in accordance with the actuation of said governor tending'to restore balance in the s stem after each variation of said condition to be controlled.

3. A system of the character described. comprising normally balanced means responsive to variations in a condition to be controlled, means including a double-acting fluid pressure motor for varying said condition, a governor for controlling flow of fluid to and from said motor, and fluid pressure means directly actuated by the fluid from the outlet of said governor tending to restore balance in the system after each variation of said condition to be controlled.

4. A system of the character described, comprising normally balanced means responsive to variations in a condition to be controlled, means including a double-acting fluid pressure motor for varying said condition. and fluid pressure means including a movable part actuated by the pressure difference of the fluid caused by the flow there- 6. The system set forth in claim 2 with the addition of valve means actuated by said movable part for varying the flow of fluid to produce a special relation between the magnitude of flow of fluid actuating said motor and the magnitude of the force exerted on said last-mentioned means.

7. The system set forth in claim 3 with the addition of valve means actuated in accordance with the last-mentioned means for varying the flow of fluid to produce a special relation between the magnitude of flow of fluid actuating said motor and the magnitude of the force exerted on said lastmentioned means.

8. A system of the character described, comprising normally balanced means responsive to variations in a condition to be controlled, means including a fluid pilot motor for varying said condition, a fluid governor for said motor actuated by said responsive means, means r'operatively connected to said responsive means and actu ated directly by the fluid controlled by said governor tending to restore said responsive means and said governor to their normal positions upon departures therefrom due to variations in said condition, and valve means actuated by the last-mentioned means for varying the flow of fluid actuating the lastmentioned means to prevent hunting in the system.

9. A system 01 the character described,

comprising normally balancedmeans movably responsive in opposite directions to a condition to be controlled upon increases and decreases respectively in the magnitude of said condition, means including a doubleacting fluid pressure motor for varying said condition, a governor actuated upon departures from balance of said responsive means to control flow of fluid to and from said motor,.and a pair of devices each tending. to restore the system to balanced condition upon movement of said responsive means in one direction and each directly actuated by the fluid flowing from the outlet of said governor in accordance with the actuation of the latter.

10. The system set forth in claim 1 with the addition of adjustable valve means .for varying the pressure of fluid actuating the last-mentioned means.

11. The system set forth in claim 2 with the addition of adjustable valve means for varying the pressure of fluid actuating the last-mentioned means.

12. The system set forth in claim 3 with the addition of adjustable valve means for varying the-pressure of fluid actuating the last-mentioned means.

13. The system set forth in claim 4 with the addition of a valve controlled by said movable part for varying the pressure fluid actuating the last-mentioned means to produce a special relation between the magnitude of the flow of fluid actuating said motor and the magnitude of the force exerted upon said last-mentioned means.

14. A system of the character described, comprising normally balanced means movably responsive in opposite directions to a condition to be controlled upon increases and decreases respectively in the magnitude of'said condition, means including a double-acting fluid pressure motor for varying said condition, a governor actuated upon departures from balance of said responsive means to control flow of fluid to and from each side of said motor, and a pair of devices each including a piston and a cylinder one of which is operative y connected to said responsive means and the other to a fixed support, and means controlled by said governor for conductin fiuid from each side of said motor to once said cylinders whereby saiddevices are operated by the fluid exhausted from said motor in accordance with actuation of said governor and tend to return said responsive meansto-normal position.

15; The system set forth in claim 14 with the addition of an adjustable valve for each of said devices to vary the pressure of the fluid actuating the same.

16.The system-set forth in claim 14 with the addition of valve means for each of said devices automatically adjustable by relative movement of said piston and cylinder to vary the pressure of fluid actuating said devices and establish a special-relation between the magnitude of the flow of fluid actuating said motor and the magnitudes of the forces exerted on said devices.

ERICH ROUCKA; 

